Self-propelled vehicle



y 1951 E. T. TURNER 2,553,952

SELF PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWARD T. TURNER Fla 4- y 1951 E. T. TURNER 2,553,952

SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I EDWARD T. TURNE v BY y 1951 E. T. TURNER SELF-PROPELLEDVEHICLE 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 INVENTOR. EDWARD T. TURNER y 1951 E. T. TURNER 2,553,952

SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 INVENTOR. EDWARD T.. TURNER May 22, 1951 E. T. TURNER SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 May 22, 1951 E. T. TURNER SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 2 l R o W m N R Hu 51 U 3 WT T Ct m o: .A W 68 o m9 6. e8 w 8. 8 0m 8 8 2 m U u. m r: {I ,vvvw/v fifi vow Iaauhfiama .WWWWMM Inn mm Mm 4 l I l 1 2 a 3 May 22, 1951 E. 'r. TURNER SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 mm i OR. T. TURNER I EDWARD May 22, 1.951 E. T. TURNER SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 VQ NE IL mm- 54 m m 5 9:: W 0 a n. I o: ow m9 U as T m2 2 T Q 9 M D 6. 2P w J32 me E @N F May 22, 1951 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 1].

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H I f U o O A g \NVENTOR EDWARD T.TURNER ATTORNEY May 22, 1951 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 Flo 37 E. T. TURNER 2,553,952

SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 12 EDWARD T.TURNER ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1951 OFFICE SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE Edward T. Turner, Dayton, Ohio; Edward T. Turner, Jr., administrator ofsaid Edward T. Turner, deceased, assignor to Charline Elizabeth Turner Application December 20, 1945, SerialNo-.--636,188

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a self-propelled vehicle and moreparticularly to-acombined land vehicle and airplane.

One object of the invention isto provide a vehicle which can be used either as-an airplane or as a land vehicle without-structural changeother than mounting or demounting the wings.

A further-objector the invention is to provide such a vehicle that can be stored in the ordinary private automobile garage.

. A further object of the invention is to provide such a-vehicle which employs the same propulsion means for-propelling thevehicle in the-air and on land.

A further object of the invention is-to provide such. a vehicle having propulsion means other than the .usualairplane propeller and'which enablesthe vehicle tobe safely operated on roads or streets and also. enables the body to-be sup- ;ported closer. to .the ground-than is possible when a. propeller is used.

A fnrthenobjectiofthe invention is to provide a vehicle iniwhich air is. compressed and discharged at high velocity. to propel' the vehicle.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a vehicle which maybe propelled .and steeredby jets of air dischargedat relatively high velocity.

Av further object .of' the invention is to provide a vehicle havingde-mountable wings. anddevices for actuating the relatively smovableparts of the wings which maybe easily andquickly connected with or disconnected from controlling mech- .anism when .thewingsare mountedonor removed from thevehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle in which the various mechanisms for controllingthe movement thereof are actuated by fluid pressure.

A further object of the invention isto provide a vehicle having simple and easily controlled means. for selectively supplying the fluid under pressure to the actuating means for thecontrolling mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide an-automobi'le'of simple elficient construction and of attractive appearance which can beproduced at low cost.

Other objectscf: the invention may appear as the vehicle is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig- 1 is aside elevation of a vehicle. embodying. my invention; Fig. 2 is .a top. plan view of the same, partly brok'en .away; Fig. 3 is..-.a front; elevation of the vehicle with the wings broken away; Fig-4 is' aside elevation of :-.a :portion .of the vehicle .showing' the demountable fenders; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of thedemountable fenders; Fig. 6 is av p'lan'view of a portion of the vehiclerpartly in section'to show the interior mechanism; Fig. 6a is a section taken through one of the compressor units; Fig. 7 is a plan view of one' set of louvers; Fig. B isa detail view of means for braking or reversing the movement of the vehicle; Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken through a portion of the vehicle on the line 9--9 of Fig. 6; Fig.'9a is a detailview of the throttle valve; Fig. 10-is a vertical section of the rear end of the vehicle taken onthefiline lfi.l(i of Fig. 2 and showing the rudder and'elevator; Fig. 11 is a detail view of theactuating mechanism for the rudder; Fig. 12 is-a plan view of the assembled wings; Fig. 13 is a; plan view partly broken away of one of the wings; Fig. 14 is a transverse 'sectionshowingithe means for detachablymounting the. wings on the body Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the means for detachably connecting theaileronswith the body and with their actuating devices; Fig. 16 1s a section taken on the line l6.l6 of Fig. -15 and partly broken away; Fig-17is-a plan view show? ing the connection between one of the-ailerons and its actuating shaft; Fig. 18 is an. end view of the same; Fig. 19 is an end view 'ofthe connect tionrbetween the other aileron and its actuating shaft; Fig. 20 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the mechanism for supplying fiuid under pressure to the'various controlling devices; Fig. 21 is a plan view, partly broken; awayyof said mechanism; Fig. 22 is a sectional detail of a-portion of one of the supply tubes; Fig. 23 isaipla'n view of: a valve operatingfimechanism; Fig. 124 is'anelevation, partly broken awayrof the 'valve actuating mechanism showing one Loft the valves in section;.F-ig. 25 is anend viewof the valve actuating mechanism with the shaft :in section {Fig 26 is adetail viewptaconnection between two parts of the shaftyFig. 27 1s a planview -of *a'n automobile embodying the invention; Fig. -28--is a sideview of said-automobile; Fig. 29 is a horizontal sectiontaken' through the rear end ofthe body of said automobile showing the propulsion nozzles in. plan; Fig. 30 is a vertical section taken through/the rear: end of-the automobile body; Fig.31 isa section-taken on the line 3l-3l-of Fig. 30; Fig. 32is=a section on =line-32-32 of -Fig, 30,. partly broken away;-Fig. 33 is a rear eleva- .tion of the steering device of the automobile;

Fig. 34 is a rear elevation of a modified-arrangee ment of thesteeringdevice Fig. 35 is a plan view of the steering :device of Fig.- 34 Fig. "36 is aside elevation, partly' broken away; of the "rear' portion of a modified embodiment of the invention; Fig. 37 is a side elevation of said rear portion with the propeller and elevator removed; Fig. 38 is an outside elevation of one nozzle unit; Fig. 39 is an inside elevation showing the influent and efiiuent passages of the other nozzle unit; Fig. 40 is a section taken on the line 40--40 of Fig. 38; Fig. 41 is a section taken on line 4 l-4l of Fig. 40 showing detachable nozzle unit; and Fig. 42 is a section on this same line with the closure plate substituted for the nozzle unit.

The invention comprises a body, preferably streamlined, having demountable wings by which it may be supported in the air, wheels for supporting the same on land and means for steering the same both in the air or on land. The body has within the same a compressor for supplying compressed air to rearwardly directed jet nozzles which are arranged to receive the compressed air and discharge the same at high velocity to propel the vehicle, suitable means being provided for controlling the speed at which the vehicle is propelled and the direction in which it moves.

In the drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention showing the same as a combined airplane and land vehicle and a modification showing parts of the invention embodied in a land vehicle only. It is to be understood, however, that these embodiments have been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the vehicle, as well as the several parts thereof, may take various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 26, the vehicle comprises an elongate body it which isprovided with de-mountable wings I I and with a three-wheel landing gear including a pair of wheels l2 adjacent the longitudinal center of the vehicle and a front wheel I3, these wheels also constituting a support for the vehicle when it is operated on land. The interior of the body is divided by an upright partition I4 into a front or operators compartment l5 and a rear compartment it. Mounted on the body are a plurality of efiluent, or jet, nozzles from which air is discharged at high velocity to propel the vehicle and control the movement thereof, as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted within the body, and in the present instance in the forward portion of the rear compartment, is an air compressor which preferably comprises two compressing units ll each including a rotary impeller which, as here shown, comprises a series of blades [8 rigidly secured to a disk-like member I9 which in turn is rigidly mounted on a drive shaft 20. A stationary wall 2| is mounted in the rear of the impeller and supports a plurality of vanes 22 which project forwardly therefrom about the periphery of the impeller blades and are connected one with the other by an annular member 23, the vanes being arranged to form volutes through which the air from the impeller is delivered through a passage or passages to the effluent nozzles, and which serve to convert a portion of the velocity energy of the air so discharged into pressure energy. The rear wall of each compressor unit is provided .with an axial inlet which is connected with an infiuent conduit 44 leading from the atmosphere to the adjacent side of the body. Mounted on each side of the body in communication with the corresponding infiuent conduit is a forwardly facinghood or nozzle 45 which receives air from the atmosphere and when the vehicle is in motion delivers that air to the corresponding compressor unit at a velocity closely approaching the velocity at which the vehicle is moving.

The impellers of the two units are mounted on the same shaft 213 which is driven by suitable gearing 24 in a gear case 25 and connected by a shaft 26 with an engine 21. The engine 21 may be of a simple light weight construction and is here shown as comprising two opposed cylinders 28. The two cylinders are connected by fuel conduits 29 with a supply pipe 38 with which is connected a carburetor 3| which receives its fuel from the gravity tank 32. The supply of fuel to both cylinders is controlled by a throttle valve 33, in pipe 30, which is connected by links 34 and 35 with one end of a lever 36 which is mounted between its ends on a fixed support 37 and the other end of which is connected with a fluid actuated device, preferably in the form of a bellows 38, fluid under pressure being supplied to the bellows through a tube 39 as will be hereinafter described. Each cylinder is provided with an exhaust pipe 43 which, in the present arrangement, leads to the atmosphere but may discharge either within or without the body. To cool the cylinders of the engine there are provided two blowers 4| which are driven from the engine shaft by gearing 42 and are provided with downturned outlets 43 arranged to discharge the air over the respective cylinders.

The body is provided with efliuent, or jet, nozzles in sufficient number and in such arrangement as may be required to propel the vehicle and to control such movements thereof as may be desired. The passage, or passages, conducting compressed air from the compressor to the several efiluent nozzles may be of any suitable character and in the illustrated arrangement the rear compartment of the body constitutes a single passage communicating with each efiiuent nozzle. This compartment being of large capacity also constitutes an air chamber, in which a relatively large volume of air is maintained under pressure when the compressor is in operation. While the compressor is shown as mounted in and discharging directly into the passage or air chamber this is not essential and the compressor may be arranged in any desired relation to the passage or passages.

The propulsion of the vehicle is, in the present instance, effected by two rearwardly directed nozzles 46 mounted on the respective sides of the body in the rear of the influent nozzles 45 and communicating with the compressor through the interior of the body. Preferably each side wall of the body is provided with an opening 41 through which the air under pressure flows to the adjacent effluent nozzle. The shape of each nozzle is such as to convert pressure energy of the air into velocity energy so that the air is discharged from the nozzle at high velocity, causing a forward reaction on the front end of the nozzle and exerting thereon a forward force tending to move the vehicle in a forward direction. The arrangement is such that by maintaining the air in the air chamber at a pressure slightly above atmosphere pressure the discharge of the air from the two efliuent nozzles will propel the vehicle at a relatively high speed.

The velocity of the jets from the propelling nozzles is, of course, controlled in part by the pressure of the air from the compressor which in turn is controlled by the throttle valve 33 which regulates the speed at which the compressor operates. It is desirable, however, to proseesaw:

constitutes an effluent passage or conduits-' Mounted in this connecting passage are aapluralf ity ofvanes or louvers w which' are pivotally mounted-at 50' so that they may' move to posi- 152.

trons transverse to' the body to permitthefullflow of air through'the passage' or'to 'inclined overlapping "positions" to restrict or prevent the fiow of "air through the passage.-=- Thelouvers may be actuated inanysuitable manne'nand as R here '-shown crank arms -5lare connected with the louvers at their-axes and the severa'l'crank' armsare pivotally connected with a reciprocatoryr bar 52 which'extends rearwardly and is pivotally connected with oneend of" a"'lever-53,*the other endof-which is connected witha' bellowsfl to' which fiuidunder pressureis suppliedby a-conduit'ortube- 55, the extension of *the 'b'ellows' servingto move the louvers to inclined positions" determinedby the pressure in the-bellows: The" 36 two-efiluent passages are controlled -by separate bellows 54- which may b'e actuated'r'eitherin" unison or separately: In the present instance" the tubes 55*of both bellows are connected with a-single tube'56 leading to a 'sourceofiiuidunder pressure; so that the=flowof"air throughboth" thefiuid passages'may be'controlled' by a single valve." v

The" jet nozzles 46 maybe "arrangedflin" any desired relation to-theinfluent nozzles" fbut in order to minimize'air resistancethey'are'here shown as arranged 'closeto'the' influent nozzles; the-two nozzles on each side "of the body being combined-in a unitary structure having a smoothl'i continuous outer surface as shown" at 51;

The body is provided adjacentfits rear end". with suitable means 'for" stabilizing the vehicl and-Tor controllingithe direction of movementi thereof when the latter is'operated astan' air plane." The controlling means may be of "mechanical character; asitshown inFigsfl'and. 10,? or -th'e control may" be efiected "by" compressed. air .fromiith'e compressor "as shown .in' Figs 27 to. 321 As 'illustrated'in Figs. 1 and'10, .a verticalji rudder:58 is rigidlysecuredftoa shaft 59 which.- ismounted at'therear edge of "a .rverticallstationary fin 66. Rigidly'secured Ztothelshaft/SQ. is av crank arm 6| which is ,operativelylconnected. with one end of a lever 62 pivotally mountedonv a bracket 63 and connected at its otherendaw-itm albell'ows .64 to which fluid under pressure is: delivered by a tube 1 64a.- I

It is desirable that the stabilizer and 431185-6133?" vator should be 'ofa transverse length not ma terially greater than the spacing; between a-thei wheels l2 :so'that theymay notextend beyondtthe": sides .of the vehicle when the latter is "propelled? over'streetsor roads. For: thispurpose Iahave'i provided; two elevators 65 'aranged- "OIIQabOVeS-tHB-i other and; rigidly connected; with shafts? 66. mounted respectively; at the :fo'rwardc: edges. 1 of? horizontal .st'abilizersi6-'l irig'idly' supported on the 5 rear portion oi .zth'e :bodyr 1 Rigidly i'securedftozithew armliofilwhich::;isicomrectedaby arzlink: 69 with a; cran rm 10 rigidly secured rtoathe'upperlshafit; 66 t tcficaus'esthe elevatorslto move in .unison and-yin; the same direction-a The sceondarm of the-belle crank isconnected byralink' H withone end.of:a=-

lever 12, the other IBIldLOfi which; ispivotally; mountedzin.bracketirl3i A:.link 1'4 connects the: lever J2:betweenfitsendsiwith .a. bellows 15 which: is'zprovided Withxafiuidsupply,Etube 16;

Any-i suitableimeans. maygbeaprovided for steer ing the-vehicleon land: Intthe present construe-i:- tiongtherfront ground-wheel.;=l3xis movable about: aosubstantially, vertical axis nso raspto' serve. as a 1 steering wheel and risjl; connected by; gearing?" with; a zsteering-lwheel I8 1 inzthetoperatorfs com-w partment [5.

A forwardly directed .jet, orjets, of air maybe provided for the .purpose of retarding. or braking; the-:forward'movement of the vehicle either inthe: aimor onrland;'.and for .impartinggrearwardtmove E ment-to the .vehicle on land.v Preferablyasingle: forwardly directed.efiluent nozzle 19 .is mounted in th'e top wallof the body and connected with anrair. passagetleading:fromthe compressor, in the prescrib-instance the airgchambe'r. To avoid air resistancerthe' llOZZlB'iiS movably supported in arr; opening:- B6 in..the:.top:wall of thebodyso that itrmay :be: moved 1 into,; torn-partly into, .thew1atter whemanot .in:use;. When, .asinthe present ,in.-:- stancegztheitopxwall forms apart of the :air p ass:-.- agezthe movement of thenozzleout of and into. the-abody may be utilized toccontrol the discharge '2 of :air therefrom. As ;shown\,in Fig.2 8 the nozzle isiueshaped in.cross"section;; the forward end and thelower side thereof being. open and the ,top ,and, rearzrendrbeing.closed; Adjacent the-rear end, the'nnozzle" is opivotallye mounted .on the top wall,.'; asz-"shown at; 81,: andsmeansi: are: provided for moving the vsame. about-its pivotal axis tomove the :open forward end .thereof above the top wall; and thus open: the: nozzle to the: extent neces- 1 sary touprovide the desired. retarding action .or rearwardapropulsion.. When the nozzle. is in. its lowerl position the forward endthereof is within; the airp'assage and, of 'course,;no .airis discharged: therefrom; Any suitable means may be provided. fori'controllingitheposition of the nozzle but. pref;- erably it isconnectedby a'link..82 .with the :bellows; 832110 :which fluid: under pressure is supplied by r a t. tube 84."

It may'also vbe desirable to provide the body; with'ia' downwardlydirected effluent 'air tpassagei; tot-retard thlldOWIlWEl'dl movement :of the ve:-. hicle and thus. facilitate landing. Asshownmore' particularly in Fig: 9, the bottom wallof theibodys is provided with a' passage :arranged in .front: of th'e'slongitudinal center ofigravityofithe vehicle Land: communicating with the i. compressor; The flow: of air through ztlie efiluent passage :85: may :ioe 'controlle'diin' any suitable manner, as by louvers .86 actuated by a:bellows::8'l in the same manneri'thatzthenflow ofair through thetrear; wardly directed nozzle 46 is controlled.-

Therwings :l I may be mounted: on andlrernoved from the'vehicle in any suitable manner but the: means for securing the'wings to thebody should: beif ofiaxsimple'easily operated character so that th'exinstallation and removal ofithe wings twill: notFrequirethe services of a' mechanic; Asshown: in:LEigs:...12 to 16, each wingis'provided at its inner:end-:with:v two inwardly extending studs 96 of-isubstantial length, the studs preferably comprising Lthe end "portions 'of 'rods 9 l I which: con: stituteoparts ofvrthe'rwing structure; The studs low'errshait 6215 aobell crankilfiligthe horizontal' 76a 9fliof-stheatwo' wings are 'adapted te -extend into" and to be rigidly secured in sockets formed in.

studs 99 will fit snugly in the respective ends,

thereof. The studs may be retained in the sockets in any suitable manner as by pins 95 extending through the tubular members and through the studs and provided with cotter pins 96 to prevent accidental removal thereof. The top wall of the body is provided with doors 91 hinged thereto which may be quickly and easily opened to permit freeaccess to the wing supporting structure.

The wings are provided with the usual aileronsQE and flaps S8. for the ailerons and flaps being, of course, located in the body of the vehicle, it is necessary that the connections between the operating devices and the ailerons and flaps should be separable so that the wings may be removed. In the preferred arrangement, the ailerons are actuated by shafts I85 rotatably mounted in the respec-. tive wings and having end portions IIII extending inwardly beyond the inner ends of the respective wings. Each shaft I09 is connected at its outer end with the aileron for the wing on which the shaft is mounted. For this purpose the shaft ie-iiis'provided at its outer end with a crank arm I02 and the pivot pin or shaft I93 for the aileron is likewise provided with a crank arm I94 which is connected with the crank arm I02 by a link I95. The two ailerons are actuated simultaneously by a single actuating mechanism but they must move in opposite directions about their respective axes, therefore, the crank arms I92 and N14 for one aileron extend in the same direction and the crank arms I92a and 14a of the other aileron extend in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 1'] to 19. The in wardly extending end portions IHI of the shafts Iilfi may be connected one with the other for rotation in unison in any suitable manner. In the present instance, a tubular member IDS is rotatably mounted in bearings in supporting brackets 93a which are carried by the main frame, and the end portions of that tubular member constitute sockets into which the end portions of the respective shafts :89 extend and in which they are retained by pins Hill, which also cause the two shafts to rotate with the tubular member I66. Rigidly secured to the tubular member is a crank arm I08 the outer end of which is connected by a link I09 with a bellows IIG, the latter being connected with a fluid supply tube :II. Thus the rotation of the socket member I will rotate the two shafts I02] in the same direction but due to the reverse connections between the ends of the shafts and'the respective ailerons the latter will movein opposite directions.

Each flap 99 is supported by and rigidly secured to a shaft II2 the end portion I I3 of which extends beyond the inner end of the wing. The

end portions of the two flap shafts are mounted in the body and connected one with the other and with an actuating device in the same manner as shown in Figs. 15 and 16 in connection with the aileron shafts, except that both flaps move in the same direction. Thus it will be apparent that the wings may be quickly and easily mounted on and de-mounted from the body of the Vehicle and the ailerons and flaps connected The operating devices 8-. withv their actuating'devices without the use of tools.

' It is also desirable that the vehicle, when operating on land, should be provided with fenders for the wheels I2 and in Figs. 3, 4;, and 5,

there are shown fenders II4 which are supported by .rods or studs H5 which extend into tubular sockets H6 and are removably retained therein by pins 1. Thus the fenders may be easily removed to reduce air-resistance when the vehicle is used ,asan airplane and can be quick-,

ly remounted when the vehicle isto be used as an automobile. ly extending mud guards 8a in the rear of the respective wheels but;inasmuch as these mud guards are thin and streamlined it is not im portant that they be removed.

It will be apparent, therefore, that when the vehicle is in use as an airplane and lands at the air field the wings may be quickly and easily de-mounted and stored, and the fenders, when they are used, can be mounted on the vehicle and the latter operated as an automobile to the owners garage, in which the vehicle can be stored. The over-all dimensions of the vehicle, with the wings removed, not being materially greater than the corresponding dimensions of an ordinary automobilathe vehicle can be stored in an ordinary automobile garage. In this manner, the vehicle may be used as an automobile to convey the operator to and from a landing field and then used as an airplane to convey him from one air field to another.

The means for controlling the various operable parts of the vehicle may be of any suitable character and may be located in any position which is convenient for manipulation by the operator. In the present vehicle fiuid operated devices, such asbellows, have been provided for controlling the respective operable parts and means are provided in the forward or operators compartment for selectively supplying fluid, usually a suitable liquid, under pressure to the respective fluid actuated devices. In Figs. 20 to 26, I have illustrated an apparatus by whichthe fluid may be selectively supplied to the various bellows and which is simple in construction and operation and easily manipulated by the operator. This apparatus preferably comprises a pump connected with a source of fluid supply and in a fluid circuit through which the fluid may be circulated from the pump through a controlling valve and then back to the pump, tubes extending from the circuit between the pump and the valve to supply fluid under pressure to the respective bellows for the part or parts which are to be operated. As here shown, the apparatus comprises a rotary pump IIB which is driven by a motor IIS and has its intake connected by a pipe I2!) with a liquid reservoir I21. A header I22 is connected with the outlet of the pump and a plurality of tubes I23 and I23 extend from the header to separate valves I24 and I24, and return tubes I25 extend from the valves to a header I26 which discharges into liquid reservoir I2I. Each tube I23 and I23 is provided between the valve and the header I22 with a restricted orifice I21. 'A branch tube I28 is connected with each tube 23 between the valve I24 and the restricted orifice I21 and leads to or forms a part of the tube for the bellows of one of the parts to be operated. Thus when a valve I24 is open the liquid flows from the pump through the header I 22, tube I23, valve I24, return tube I25, and header I26 to the reservoir I2I, and thence through pipe I20 to the I have also provided rearward intake :of gthepump. Whenthe valve is closed or partly closed the liquid or a' portion thereof flows through-the,icorrespondingibranch tube I28 to :thexbellows until the latter has been extended to ithe desired extent; and by: regulating the extent 'towhichthe valve is openedthe desired pressure maybe exertedonthe: bellows.

The .valvesgmay..be:actuatedin any suitable and convenient manner. and; in the presentarrangevment thetube I23: extends downwardly from the header I22 and. rearwardlyto valve I 24 which is actuated by a foot; lever. I3 I arranged adjacent "thetoperators'seat and branch tube 59 leads from :the tube I23 to the bellows38which actuatesthe throttle valve of :the. engine. The remaining valvesiare'separately controlled by suitable-actuating devices each" of which may be connected withzoneaor a' plurality of valves. 'The several .valves arexpreferablyconnected. in pairs and the valves of each pair actuated by a single actuating :'device.. In Figs.i231to126; one-such pair of valves ;is:'shown which; for example;:may control the flots- :of: liquid through tube 64a to. the bellows for the rudderi'andzthrough. tube I6 'to bellows. for the elevators. For convenience .of reference,.these "valves? are'numbered respectively I24a and I 24b. ZAs-IshoWnin Fig. 24,. eachof'these valves has a valve seat I32: in. line withithe inlet opening and a valve member ill33iwhich is providedwith a tapered .end to engage that'valve'seat and is movable longitudinally. "The valve member .prefer- =ably forms of part of arodthe outer end portion l34 of which constitutes a' valve stemaandiis Tslidablymduritedr in a: packing'glandi I 351 in? the valvezcasing. I'nthisrespecti the two? valvesv are identical. The outer end-of the valve: stem for thervalvell 24a 'is-connected'by: a' link I36 with a lever? I3'Itpivotally'imounted at its .upper :end 01113.11 uprightwstandard 7:158 and pivotally con- .nected atits:lower:end byaa link I39 with the en'd :portionIMl of' an actuatingshaft I4I. Thisshaft .I4I 'is;mounted:"in b-earings -I42' for -:both axial movementsand rotary movement; and the:- axial movement thereof rocks the lever I3'I about-its upp'erpaxis to move 'the'valve member' I 3 3: of valve I24a toward: and*fromrits'-seat. Secured to the shaft I 4 I- for rotationytherewith is" 2500112111" I-42a to-whichis"rigidly 'secured'an arm I43 the outer end or which 'is'connectedbyxlinks I44 and I45 with one arm of-abell-crank I4 6- pivotally mountedzonxa'standard I41. iTheyother. arm of this' bellcrank-is connected'bya linkI48 with the-stem"l 34 .Of.Va1Vei"|24b. TThL'IS'TWhGIlYLthG- shaft I4I- is'rotated'the" valve .member ofi valve I241)" is -moved towardor from fits"seat. iConnected-"withthe outer Bl'ld'Of the shaft 14 I is a suitabletoperating handle',".suchi aszaz small diameter wheel I 49, 'by which"the;shaft'-may be; rotated or'moved lengthwise. "iTO permitthe "shaft torotate "with relation to the lever I3I'and .to imparttmovement-to that 'lever: when thetshaft is moved'lengthwise, the'imain portion" I4I.;0f the shaftisrigidly secured to a couplingmembenlfli'andfthe part I40 QfJtheIshaftis provided with a' head-I 5 I arranged within the couplingr member and on which the coupling membersis" freeito rotate. :The. head I5 I and. the adjacent end of; the shaft I 4 I are'maintained'in' such: close-relation one to the'other that thereri-ist little or .no irela-tive: movement thereof when-theishaft is moved; longitudinally.

l'Asihaswbeenstated the vehicle canzbe usedas amautornobile and it'may-be so used without being;eapable-;of;use as, an; airplane. ;In :Figs; V2'? to 34,1: have-illustrated? a vehicle which, 'isg-notj-pro- 'videdtwithawings and iszoperable onhkz-asanwautomobile but it could,: if desired,- be 'providedwith v idea-mountable wings as above described to enable 'it' to travel in the. air as' well. as on land. .The body I is generally similar to the body. I0 hereinbefore described and it is divided into two compartments in the same manner as that'body. The compressor, its associated parts and the control- ;ling'devices are similar to the corresponding-parts ;of :the; combined vehicle, with the exception that therearwardlydirected jet nozzles are arranged =near.the-rear 'endzofthe body at a substantial distancerfrom the. influent nozzles I56 "which supplyaair-to the compressor units. 7 The effluent -or-jet--nozzles:l5l are: arranged on opposite vsides oi'i., the---narrow rear; end; portion of the body and rare directed-rearwardly so that the jets .of high velocity :air will [propel the vehicle forwardlygat high speed. .To; avoid objectionable: results due tozthe dir'ectingof. the high velocity air jetsuat, a low: level, thecnozzles are so controlled that: they may Ice-adjusted :toxdirect .the .air jets upwardly :at an acute angleto the. line of: movement .off'the vehicle; thus causing thesame'to pass aboveiad jacent personsor vehicles. '.'"For this purpose: the nozzles I5'I .arexprovided withinwardlysextending parts I58 (Fig. '31) -which are rotatably mounted in: bearings r I59. in the'respectivei-sides .of theibody I55. i'Ihea'djacent parts "I58 oftthe two nozzles are irigidly' connected. one iwith' llhe .otherkby a shaft" 1 60,1which is secured to spiders 'I 60:12 carried by the respective;.nozzles. iiRigi'dly secured toathershaft I60 is an arm IIiIwhich-zis connected with .a. bellows I162. to: whichi'fiuidwis supplied byta tube'QI63, thus enabling the operator to tilt. the .nozzlesiupwardly or'to: maintain them. :in: a horizontal tposition when the:rearwa1fd blastof air:isnotzobjectionable.

The flow of air ?through*the jetnozzlesxiI5'l'cis controlled in substantially'-ithe'.=' same: manner: as it is" through tthe nozzles 46;:that is, avplurality 'of'zlouvers" I 64 :arezmounted'v inzeach passage 164a leading fromithe air-passage within; the'tbodysto the: nozzles, the zlouversigbeing i actuated' by bars .165 and':"I.66 connected through.linkageswithtthe bellows'zI'IiI andv I 68,:=which are connected bytubes I69 and H0 with a source of fluid under pressure.

This evehicle'isflalso 'steered'by air jetsian'd to this 'end an :upright conduit I1 I is: mountedzs'on the: rear .end. of. the body .iilli iopenrcommunication with the air passage and is provided atits; upper end-:with laterally extendinginozzles' I12 and I'I3 the flow of air from the conduit; .I'II'toithe respective "nozzles being; controlled by valves'f I14 and": 'I I5-whichare connected by-links II6= with bellows II'I which is provided with a fluid supply tube Ii 8;theactuatingzmeans 5 forronevalve only being :shown. Thus bympeningoneorv theother of =.the valves I14- and I15 .airwathigh :velocity will be: discharged.v in the-direction -inwhich the vehicle is to'i-turn, thusrcausing the vehicle to move: about a -vert ical .-.axis on its supporting wheels.

-.The upwardly -directedpropelling jets-from- :the nozzle I 51 tend to depressrthe rear end of the body:-and'to;v liftthe front wheel off the ground. Thus when' the: vehicle. is traveling at high: speed thGvIlOZZlCS 151- may ham-adjusted: as.-to..so lift the; front wheel-1 and cause the vehicle to travel on two wheelsgonly. T0 counteractthis tendency of the upwardly directed air jets.-tomove.the tail end; -of=.the: body: downwardly I' have mounted :on the; conduit; I I I radj ac'ent the.- nozzles:v stationary fins I19 which will resist the;downward'-movemerit. andtwillgaestablish 1; a. balanced condition-in whichethew-body may vrernaintin:at.substantially constant position while moving on the two wheels.

While I prefer to utilize jet propulsion both on land and in the air, this is not essential and in Figs. 36 to 40 I have shown a modified form of the vehicle which uses jet propulsion on land and a propeller in the air. In the arrangement there hown, a pusher propeller I80 is removably mounted on a shaft I8I connected with the engine 21 and extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the body. The propeller may be removably attached to the shaft in any suitable manner, as by splines and a cross pin I82. A vertical rudder 58' and a stationary fin 60 are provided, together with a single elevator 65 and a stabilizer 61. The rudder and the elevator are preferably operated in the manner above described and the elevator and stabilizer are removably mounted on the body, as by bolts I83. A clutch I84 is interposed between the engine shaft 26 and the compressor, so that the latter may be disconnected from the engine when the propeller is used. It is desirable that the influent and efiluent nozzle units 51 should be removed to avoid unnecessary air resistance when the vehicle is in the air. For that purpose each unit is provided with a flange 51' secured to the body by bolts. When the units are removed the air inlet and outlet openings are closed bya plate I85 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the body. Thus the vehicle may be operated'as a land vehicle by merely demounting the wings and removing the propeller and, if desired, removing the elevator and the stabilizer. When the vehicle is to operate in the air, the pro.- peller, wings, stabilizer, and elevator are remounted and the compressor disconnected from the engine, and if desired the nozzle units may be removed and replaced by the plates I85, and the fenders I I 4 may also be removed.

When jet propulsion is not used for propelling the vehicle in the air, the propulsion nozzles 46 may be permanently inclined upwardly and rearwardly and in the arrangement shown in Figs. 38 and 39 each of these nozzles is provided with a fixed inclined passage I86 through which the effluent air is discharged upwardly and rearwardly.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, together with certain modifications thereof, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art. 7

Having now fully described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A self-propelled vehicle comprising a body, wheels'to support said vehicle on land, de-mountable wings to support said vehicle in the air, each wing including an element pivotally connected with the rear edge thereof, shafts extending lengthwise of the respective wings and operatively connected with the respective elements, an actuating device mounted on said body substantially in line with said shafts for movement about an axis transverse to said body, said device and said shafts having at their adjacent ends means for operatively connecting the same one with the other when said wings are mounted on said body, and means for propelling said vehicle in the air or on land.

2. A self-propelled vehicle comprising a body, wheels to support said vehicle on land, demountable wings to support said vehicle in the air, each wing including an aileron and a flap, separate shafts connected with said aileron and said flap and having parts extending beyond the inner end of said wing, two tubular elements rotatably mounted on said body and arranged respectively to receive the projecting ends of the aileron shafts and the flap shafts, means for connecting said shafts with the respective rotatable members for rotation therewith, means for actuating said rotatable members, and means for propelling said vehicle in the air and on land.

3. A self-propelled vehicle comprising a body, wheels to support said vehicle on land, de-mountable wings to support said vehicle in the air, each wing including an aileron and a flap, studs rigidly secured to and projecting inwardly beyond the inner end of each wing, shafts extending lengthwise through each wing, operatively connected respectively with said aileron and said flap and having parts extending beyond the inner end of said wing, tubular members rigidly mounted on said body, each tubular member being arranged to receive the corresponding studs on the two wings, two tubular members rotatably mounted on said body and arranged respectively to receive the projecting ends of the aileron operating shafts and the flap operating shafts, means for connecting said shafts with the respective rotatable members for rotation therewith, means for actuating said rotatable members, and means for propelling said vehicle in the air or on land.

4. In a self-propelled vehicle, an elongate hollow body, an air compressor in said body provided with axial intake passages on the respective sides thereof, relatively large forwardly facing influent nozzles on the respective sides of said body having lateral openings connected with the respective intake passages of said compressor, said body having lateral passages in the rear of said infiuent nozzles and communicating with said compressor, rearwardly directed efiluent nozzles on the respective sides of said body, extending across and communicating with the lateral passages in said body, and means in said body for controlling the flow of air from said compressor to said effluent nozzles.

5. In a self-propelled vehicle, an elongate hollow body, an air compressor in said body provided with axial intake passages on the respective sides thereof, relatively large forwardly facing influent nozzles on the respective sides of said body having lateral openings connected with the respective intake passages of said compressor, said body having lateral passages in the rear of said influent nozzles communicating with said compressor, rearwardly directed eflluent nozzles on the respective sides of said body, extending across and communicating with the lateral passages in said body, means in said body for controlling the flow of air from said compressor to said efiiuent nozzles, the influent nozzle and the effluent nozzle on each side of said body being arranged close one to the other in a line extending lengthwise of said body, and a member of thin material extending about the exteriors of said nozzles on each side of said body and combining the same in a unitary structure having a smooth continuous outer surface.

6. In a self-propelled vehicle, an elongate hollow body having an operators compartment in the forward portion thereof and an air chamber in the rear of said operators compartment, an air compressor in-said air chamber discharging directly into said air chamber and having intake passages at the respective sides thereof, forwardly facing infiuent nozzles at the respective sides of said body, communicating with'the intake pasmans ons sages of -said: compressor, rearwardly directed efiluent-mozzles on the respective sides,,of.-..tsaid -body, communicating withs-said air chamber,

means adjacent the rear. end-. of:- said-:body.. for

controlling the direction v.0f :movement (thereof, 1?

(gate body-having an operatorscompartmentand tan ainchamber, wheels forsu'ppo'rting said vehicle "on land, de-mountable wings iorfsupporting said vehicle in. the ,air, a compressor-lain saidz-bodyr for supplying. ;compressed air rio-rsaid air a-ichambier, in'fluent nozzles-,at...the. respective sides ;.of.- 2521.111

.body i for szsupplying. l air. .to ssaid:;compressor,t. :an

engine drivingly. connected withxsaid compressor, a "device for controlling ..the operation rbfssiid engine, a blower .driven .byzsa-id vengineeto discharge .cooling air over" the Flatter, rearwardly directed jet nozzles at the respective sidesxof said body, efiiuent' passages connecting saidsnozzles with said air chamber,---separate devices ior cohtrolling the flow of airthroughsaid efiiuent passage s, .1neans for operating saidcontrolling devices, a'rudder and an elevatorat the .rear ierfid of said body, said elevator being of"a-width'--not materially greater than the distance between said wheels, separate means for operating said rudder and said elevator, a downwardly directed air passage adjacent the longitudinal center of said vehicle and communicating with said air chamber, a device for controlling the flow of air through said downwardly directed air passage, means for operating said controlling means, and means in the operators compartment for actuating the respective operating means.

8. A self-propelled Vehicle comprising a body, an air compressor on said body, an engine drivingly connected with said compressor, a hydraulic device for controlling the operation of said engine, rearwardly directed jet nozzles connected with said compressor, means for controlling the fiow of air to said nozzles, a hydraulic device for actuating said fiow controlling means, means for controlling the direction of the movement of said vehicle, a hydraulic device for actuating said direction controlling means, a source of liquid under pressure, and means selectively operable by the operator to deliver liquid from said source to the respective hydraulic devices.

9. A self-propelled vehicle comprising a body, an air compressor on said body, an engine drivingly connected with said compressor, a hydraulic device for controlling the operation of said engine, rearwardly directed jet nozzles connected with said compressor, means for controlling the flow of air to said nozzles, a hydraulic device for actuating said fiow controlling means, means for controlling the direction of the movement of said vehicle, a hydraulic device for actuating said direction controlling means, a pump, a liquid reservoir connected with the intake of said pump, a header connected with the outlet of said pump, a plurality of tubes connected with said header, a valve connected with each tube, a return tube leading from each valve to said receptacle, and a branch tube connected with the respective first-mentioned tubes between the valves and said header and leading to the respective hydraulic devices.

10. A self-propelled vehicle comprising abody,

"am-air compressor' in: said :body; anzzengine drivingly: connected with" compressor; ashydraulicide- 'viceifori-controllingx the. operation? of: said engine,

rearwardly directed jet nozzles; connected'iwith said compressor, means for-controlling the flow of air. to said nozzles, ahydraulic idevice for actuatingsaid flow controlling means, means for. controlling the. direction of the movement ofasaid vehicle, a hydraulicdevice for actuating: said di- 'rectioncontrollingmeans,.a pump,- a. liquid'reservoir' I connected with the intake :of said :pump,. a header connected with the outlet of said pump; a

pluralityof tubes connected with said 'headerya valve connected with eachtube,- areturntube 'lea'ding 'from each valve. to said receptacle, branch tubesconne'cted with the 'respective'first-mentioned tubes between the valves and 'said header and'leading to the-respectivehydraulic devices-a valve controlling shaft mounted 'for*both axial movement and'rotary movement, an actuating device connected-with said shaft, :means 'controlled by saidaxial movement of said'shaft' for actuating 'one of said-valves, and means controlled by the rotary movement of said shaft for actuating another of said --*valves.

, -11 -.-In. a -selfepropelled vehiele including means for propelling the same and :for::controlling :the direction and movement thereof, meansincluding a bellows for controlling the operation of said propelling means, devices for actuating said direction controlling means including a bellows, a pump, a fluid reservoir connected with the inlet to said pump, a header connected with the outlet of said pump, a plurality of conduits connected with said header and each having a restricted orifice, valves connected with the respective conduits beyond said orifices, other conduits leading from the respective valves to said liquid reservoir, and branch conduits connected with the respective first-mentioned conduits between said valves and said orifices and leading to the respective bellows.

12. In a self-propelled vehicle, two devices for controlling respectively the operation of two parts of said vehicle, each device including a bellows, a pump, a fluid reservoir connected with the intake of said pump, two tubes connected with the outlet of said pump, a restricted orifice in each tube, separate valves connected with said tubes beyond said orifices, a return tube leading from each valve to said reservoir, tubes connecting the first-mentioned tubes with the respective bellows, and a single device having means for separately actuating the respective valves.

13. In a self-propelled vehicle, two devices for controlling respectively the operation of two parts of said vehicle, each device including-a bellows, a pump, a fluid reservoir connected with the intake of said pump, two tubes connected with the outlet of said pump, a restricted orifice in each tube, separate valves connected with said tubes beyond said orifices, a return tube leading from each valve to said reservoir, tubes connecting the first-mentioned tubes with the respective bellows, a shaft mounted for both axial movement and rotary movement, means controlled by the axial movement of said shaft for actuating one of said valves, means controlled by the rotary movement of said shaft for actuating the other of said valves, and a single operating device connected with said shaft for imparting either movement thereto.

14. A jet propelled vehicle comprising a body, means for movably supporting said body, said body including a part constituting an air chamber, a rotary air compressor mounted in said chamber and comprising two separate compressor units, each of said units including a stationary wall adjacent one side of said body and having an axial inlet, an impeller including a disklike member and a plurality of blades carried by that side of said member adjacent said stationary wall, a series of vanes carried by said stationary wall and extending across and substantially tangential to the path of the outer ends of said impeller blades, and an annular member secured to and closing the spaces between the lateral edges of said vanes and arranged substantially in the plane of the peripheral portion of said disk-like member, influent conduits connecting said axial inlets with the atmosphere at the respective sides of said body, rearwardly directed effluent nozzles arranged at the respective sides of said body in the rear of said influent conduits to propel said vehicle, and means for supplying compressed air from said air chamber to said nozzle.

EDWARD T. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

18 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,234,882 Doble July 31, 1917 1,457,871 Bonsiakos June 5, 1923 1,585,281 Craddock May 18, 1926 1,585,529 Boving May 18, 1926 1,650,338 Fornaca Nov. 22, 1927 1,686,071 Cavalieri Oct. 2, 1928 1,895,518 Peck Jan. 31, 1933 1,941,348 Hathorn Dec. 26, 1933 2,024,274 'Campini Dec. 17, 1935 2,039,924 OConnor May 5, 1936 2,109,238 Sessions Feb. 22, 1938 2,147,536 Levy Feb. 14, 1939 2,215,003 Johnson Sept. 17, 1940 2,242,147 Salisbury May 13, 1941 2,280,835 Lysolm Apr. 28, 1942 2,352,793 Lennes July 4, 1944 2,372,393 Ray Mar. 27, 1945 2,373,467 Frakes Apr. 10, 1945 2,390,161 'Mercier Dec. 4, 1945 2,395,435 Thompson et al. Feb. 26, 1946 2,430,869 Fulton Nov. 18, 1947 2,434,068 Geisse Jan. 6, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 396,458, Richard (A. P. 0.), published May 25, 1943. 

